Toy



A. E. RITTENHOUSE TOY Filed Oct. 15, 1929 Aug. 13, 1931.

I Ar QfiarE iittenfioase hi-s'ATToRNEY INVENTOR Patented Aug. 18, 1931An mia a mammal n 0 transom ALLS. new You Application filed October 15,1929. fierial No. 893,764.

This invention relates to improvements in toys, and has for itsprincipal object to provide a mechanical toy adapted to swing in circlesabout the base of a flexible anchor or support to which it issecured.

Another object of the invention is to mount a mechanical toy on aflexible support so that normally when not in motion the toy rests in orbelow the plane of the base of the support, and when set in motionraises from said plane and moves in an upwardly inclined curve ofconstantly increasing diameter until an equilibrium is establishedbetween its contrifugal force and the reaction of its flexible supportwhen it moves in circles of uniform diameter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical toyadapted to be suspended from a flexible support and provided withelectrical propelling means.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction andarrangement of parts that will appear from the following descriptionwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novelfeatures 7 being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings:

- .Figure 1 is a side ele'vationof a-device constructed according to oneembodiment of 'the invention;

- Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the self-propelled toy, plane1, mounted on or-suspended from the same;

- Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-7.3

of Figure 2showing how the flexible support is mounted, and i a Figure 4is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the flexible support showinghow its length may be varied or adjusted to accommodate toys-ofdifferent weights.

Like reference numerals refer to the same parts in all the figures ofthedrawings. The apparatus illustrated comprises generally a herein shownas a toy aeroend of a flexible support 2 revolubly mounted a housing orother suitable support 4 a ap d to e t n a plane surface such as a flooror table.

Whil atoy aerop ane i i lustrated th drawings, it will be understoodthat other mechanical L oys, such as dirigible balloons, or birds may besubstituted therefor.

The 1 05 aeroplane illustrated is of well known typecomprising a bodyportion 5 in which an electric motor 6 is housed. The

shaft of the motor extends through and has a bearing in one end of thebody and has a propeller 7secured thereto at its outer end.

The aeroplane illustrated has a monoplane V 8, although it may be of thebiplane type. It is also provided with the usual rudders 9.

The aeroplane is mounted on the flexible meimber or support 2 which maybe a steel ro support is mounted in the housing 4 to rotate thereinand'normallyoccupiesa position with its axis vertical. When, however,the aeroplane is mounted on its upper end, it flexes laterally, and theproportion of the parts is so adjusted that equilibrium is establishedjust as the aeroplane contacts withthe floor r other p an upport 0 nwhich h sing 4 rests.

The aeroplane or other toy is suspended on the flexible support so thatwhen driven by its propellers, it describes a curvilinear path a u the pv t of th upp rt a a e e takes off the floor, inclines itsplanedownwardly toward the center, creases its radius of curvature due to thecenr gal f e d e p d: ts po iti n juj afterirising from the floor isindicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 As thetoy plane rises and revolvesabout supported on a horizontal partition or support '13 in the housingby means of nuts or collars 14 threaded on its lower end, one on eachside of the partition, The sleeve or tubular. member 12 extends upwardlyfrom its suppo t th sh pening the top of the v or tube or other suitablematerial, The

nd const nt y i 5 ing which cooperates with its support to maintain itsaxis in vertical alinement. The flexible support 2 is centrally securedin the sleeve 12. The diameter of the opening in the sleeve 12 is largerthan the external (1i? ameter of the flexible member, and thus a spaceis provided between them for insulating material, as indicated at 15. 7

Suitable means are provided for supplying electrical energy to the motor6. Said means comprises terminals 16 and 17 on the housing 4 to whichthe terminals of a battery 11 or other suitable source of energy areconnected. The terminal 16 is grounded on the housing, but the terminal17 is insulated therefrom and connected by means of the con- "ductor 18with a post 19 mounted in the support 13 but insulated therefrom.Mounted on the lower end of the post 19 is a resilient conductor 20which resiliently contacts With the lower end of the flexible support 2Which projects from the lower end of the sleeve 12. The other end of thesupport 2 is connected with an insulated hook or ring 21 on the toyaeroplane which v connects with one of the terminals of the motor 6. v

Bearing on the upper end of the sleeve 12 is a collar or ring 22 ofconducting material secured to but insulated from the rod 2, and,towhich a flexible conductor 23 is connected andwhich may be twined orcoiled about the support 2 and grounded on the body of the toy aeroplaneto provide a grounded connection with the grounded terminal of the motor6. i

In practice, it is found that the flexibility of different samples ofsupporting rods 2 varies, as does also the weight of different toys. Asa result, it often happens that the support is either too rigid or tooflexible for the toy, so that the toy may be either suspended above thefloor when at rest, or does not take off or rise therefrom until a highvelocity is acquired. "To avoid this difliculty, means have beenprovided for adjusting or varying the length of the support to meetvarying conditions. To this end, the support 2 18 made in two pieces andthe ends connected by means of a sleeve 24;into which the free ends ofthe support are inserted and secured by set screws 25 as shown, or anyother suitable means. By loosening one or both of the screws 25, theends of the support may be moved from each other to lengthen the supportand increase its flexibility, or they may be moved toward each other toshorten the support toreduce its flexibility. By tightening the set,screws, the parts will be secured in their adjusted positions.

The housing 1 is preferably constructed of sheet material and ofsufficient weight to hold said rod and means on the support 2 in fixedor stationary position when the toy is revolving at comparatively highspeed. The housing may be designed to imitate the sheds or hangarsemployed at aeronautic fields, and serves as a housing for the toy whennot in use.

In operation, when the circuit is closed through the motor, it drivesthe propeller and moves the aeroplane forwardly. Since the aeroplanerests very lightly on its support, and due to the resiliency of thesuspending rod 2, it rises as soon as it acquires momentum and moves inan upwardly inclined spiral path untila state of equilibrium is reached,

when itcontinues to move in asubstantially circular path in a horizontalplane. Durlng this movement, the plane has a tendency to swing on therod to a downwardly and inwardly inclined position, as indicated in thedotted line position in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the rod 2 isattached to the plane at a point outside of its center of gravity sothat the force of gravity increases its tendency to swing in thisdirection. However, the grounded wire 23 is attached to the inner planeat a point adjacent its inner end and being more or less rigid supportsthe inner end of the plane and tends to maintain it in a fixed positionwith respect to the rod 2.

While the invention has been described with reference to a toyaeroplane, it will be understood that the parts could be constructed ona much larger scale to carry passengers and employed as an amusementapparatus at amusement parks, country fairs and similar laces.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been illustratedand described, it will be understood that this application is intendedto cover such changes or modifications as may come within the spirit ofthe invention or scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a toy, the combination with a housing, of a resilient flexible rodrevolubly mounted therein and arching in a continuous gradual curveextending substantially upwardly, outwardly and downwardly from thehousing, said rod being flexible throughout its entire length from apoint immediately above the housing, a toy suspended on the free end ofthe toy for propelling it, the arrangement being such that the rodflexes upwardly and throughout its entire length to maintain the form ofan arch under the weight of the toy which moves in varying curves aboutthe base of the rod as a center.

2. In atoy, the combination with a housing, of a resilient flexible rodrevolubly mounted therein and arching in a continuous gradual curveextending substantially upwardly, outwardly'and downwardly from'thehousing, said rod being flexible throughout its entire length from apoint immediately above the housing, a toy aeroplane suspended from thefree end of said rod and pivoted thereto at a point outside its centerof gravity, an electric motor on the aeroplane for propelling it, and anelectric conductor for said motor mounted on said rod and secured to theaeroplane adjacent its inner end, the arrangement being such that themotor drives the aeroplane causing the rod to flex upwardly whilemaintaining the form of an arch and the aeroplane is maintained at asubstantially uniform angle after it lifts off its support irrespectiveof the position of the flexible rod. 3. In a toy, the combination with ahousing having a horizontal partition, of a sleeve mounted on saidpartition and extending upwardly through an opening in the top of thehousing, a flexible support revolubly mounted in said sleeve andinsulated therefrom, said flexible support comprising a rod which archesin a continuous gradual curve extending substantially u wardly, thenceoutwardly and downwardly f f'om the sleeve and is flexible throughoutits entire length from the top of the sleeve, a toy suspended from saidflexible member, an electric motor in said toy for propelling it, meanselectrically connecting one of the terminals of said motor with theflexible support, a conductor connecting the other terminal of saidmotor with said sleeve, a source of electric current, and meansconnecting said sleeve and flexible support with the terminals of saidsource of electric current.

I In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

ARTHUR E. RITTENHOUSE.

